Javagal Srinath is the spearhead of the Indian pace attack and the only bowler in India capable of producing the speeds generally associated with West Indian or South African pacemen. Srinath suffered a testing introduction to Test cricket when despite impressing Allan Border no end on his debut tour to Australia, and performing creditably on the ill-fated South African tour of 1992, he was unable to play a part in India`s tremendous home successes due to the "spin trio + Kapil Dev + Prabhakar" selection policy. After Kapil Dev`s retirement, he finally broke back into the playing XI and has not looked back. Statistically his Test record is tarnished by his early tours, but he is very much the genuine article as a speed merchant now, having been compared with Allan Donald for sheer pace during his 1995 stint with the English county of Goucestershire. He has had injury problems in 1997 and 1998, possibly through being over-bowled and India's strenuous itinerary. His one-day bowling record is most impressive, and only Dennis Lillee and Waqar Younis have taken 100 wickets in fewer matches. He is also a useful tail-end bat, capable of scoring runs at a brisk pace, although early indications that he could mature into a true all-rounder have not amounted to much as yet.
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